But today he believes that most Iraqis are worse off than they were under their former leader, who was hanged on December 30 last year.

"I really regret bringing down the statue," he said. "The Americans are worse than the dictatorship. Every day is worse than the previous day."

The mechanic, who was sent to Abu Ghraib prison by Saddam's son Uday, said that although Saddam was "like Stalin" the Iraqi people were suffering more now than they ever did under his rule.

"The devil you know is better than the devil you don't," he said. "We no longer know friend from foe. The situation is becoming more dangerous. It's not getting better at all. People are poor and the prices are going higher and higher."

His comments will be broadcast in an ITV special tonight called Regrets of the Statue Man. They come as a poll of around 5,000 Iraqis to mark this week's fourth anniversary of the U. S.-led invasion reveals mixed feelings towards the 'liberation'.

In spite of Mr al-Jubouri's pessimism, it shows that nearly half of Iraqis believe life has improved since Saddam was deposed. Yet more than a quarter reported having a close relative murdered during the past three years.